The Wage and Hour Division mission is to promote and achieve compliance with labor standards to protect and enhance the welfare of the nation's workforce. We are committed to ensuring that workers in this country are paid properly and for all the hours they work.

FLSA

The right to fair pay

The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) establishes minimum wage, overtime pay, recordkeeping, and child labor standards affecting most full-time and part-time workers in the private sector and in federal, state, and local governments.

FMLA

The right to take unpaid leave

Under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) eligible employees of covered employers have the right to take unpaid, job-protected leave for specified family and medical reasons.

Children's Rights

Young Workers' rights

Federal child labor laws ensure that when young people work, the work is safe and does not jeopardize their health, well-being or educational opportunities.

Farm

Farm Workers' rights

The Wage and Hour Division helps all workers in the United States. We enforce the law without regard to a worker’s immigration status.

H2-B Workers

H-2B Workers' rights

The H-2B provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) provide for the admission of nonimmigrants to the U.S. to perform temporary non-agricultural labor or services.

Restaurant Workers

Restaurant Workers' rights

The restaurant/fast food industry includes establishments which are primarily engaged in selling and serving to purchasers prepared food and beverages for consumption on or off the premises.

Quick Links

Essential Workers – Essential Protections
Resources for essential workers who are keeping our country moving forward during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Essential Workers, Essential Protections - Restaurant Industry (YouTube)
An overview of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA)

Garment Workers' Rights

How to File a Complaint
We have offices throughout the country with trained professionals to help you.

Misclassification of Employees as Independent Contractors

Workers Owed Wages
If you think you may be owed back wages collected by WHD, you can search our database of workers for whom we have money waiting to be claimed.

Worker Resources
A library of resources WHD offers to ensure that workers understand their rights under these laws and that they receive the wages and the protections to which they are entitled.

Resources in Other Languages
Find help in 20 languages.

Timesheet Mobile App
This app helps track regular work hours, break time, and overtime hours.